Device for making flexible hose



April 6, 1954 R. e. BRINGOLF DEVICE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE HOSE 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 30, 1944 Mwm April 6, 1954 R. G. BRINGOLF 2,674,296

DEVICE FOR MAKiNG FLEXBLE HOSE Original Filed May 30, 1944 '2 She ets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

4 T TOE/YE Y5 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 w DEVICE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE HOSE Richard G. Bringolf, Seattle, Wash., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Callahan Zinc-Lead Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Arizona Original application May 30, 1944, Serial No.

538,047. Divided and this application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,143

Claims.

This invention relates to hose, and to novel methods of and novel means for its manufacture, and is a divisional application of my copending application, Serial No. 538,047, now Patent No. 2,486,387, issued November 1, 1949.

More particularly, the present invention con cerns the manufacture of a type of flexible hose, or duct, especially useful for the conduction of ventilating air, gases and the like, although not, by reason of its structure, restricted to that specific use; such hose being characterized by its having durability, exceptional flexibility and lightness of weight particularly in its larger diameters.

The principal objects of this invention are: First, to provide a hose for the above stated and other purposes, embodying certain novel details in the construction and combination of its parts that give it additional and more uniform flexibility at all points along its length; whereby its strength is increased; whereby the durability and integrity of its seams are insured, and greater speed of manufacture of this type of hose is made possible.

Furthermore, to provide a hose of a type of construction that can be built in any of its range of diameters by the same machine.

Second, to provide a method of manufacturing hose, incorporating therein the advantages and those novel features of construction embodied by this invention, that will greatly expedite and simplify the operation-and make possible the formation of a continuous duct, or hose of any desired length and of any desired diameter within practical limits.

Third, to provide a novel type of machine for the making of a hose in accordance with the novel method herein set forth and embodying its novel details of construction.

More specifically stated, the first mentioned object of the invention anticipates the formation of a continuous hose or duct of a selected diameter from a, prefabricated strip of a suitable flexible material; for example, a strip of canvas or fabric of a designated width and of indeterminate length, that is formed into a succession of uniform, lapping spirals or convolutions, thus to provide the continuous duct of uniform diameter, and wherein the continuous joint or seam between overlapping edges of adjacent convolutions, is sealed and secured by a suitable cement or adhesive and the body structure of the formed tube is given strength and durability, and its tubular form insured by the incorporation therein of a spirally formed reinforcing band, or

wire, that is directly associated with the fabric strip in spirals that are coincident with the successive spirals of the hose, either incorporated in the seams or in the body of the strip material.

Those objects of the invention which apply to the methods of manufacture of the hose anticipate, in the making of one type or modification thereof, the longitudinal folding of the selected fabric strip and protectively enclosing the continuous reinforcing band or wire in the fold prior to the strip being formed into the succession of spirals or convolutions. Also, the invention anticipates in another modification of the hose, the application of the reinforcing wire, or band, to the tube at the time of forming the spirals, by causing it to be fed into the continuous seam between the overlapping edges of the successive convolutions. Furthermore, that in this latter modification, a special interlocking of the overlapping edges of the spirals shall be effected to insure the strengthening and integrity of the cemented seam and the complete enclosing of the wire as a means of protecting it against damage by contact with gases or other fluids that may be conducted through the hose.

The method further contemplates feeding the prefabricated strip in a manner and under a predetermined frictional holding and pressure forming means from successive spiral formations of the strip, together with the feeding position of the strip being such that the reinforced edge of the strip of one spiral is caused to underlie the unreinforced edge of the next following spiral.

The method further contemplates the utilization of the frictional holding and guiding property of the inserted wire or band as a selective means for determining to some extent the flexibility of the completed hose through providing a prefabricated strip of selected width and providing the frictional holding and guiding detail to form the successive spirals of a width lengthwise of the hose in accordance with the selected width of the prefabricated stripand thus space the reinforced and therefore the comparatively rigid edges of the strip, any desired distance apart with consequent selected flexibility of the completed hos'e.

Those objects of the invention pertaining to the machine for the manufacture of the present hose by methods embodied by this invention anticipate the provision of devices of novel form and arrangement in the machine for the formation of the prefabricated strip into a succession of evenly formed convolutions of any selected diameter and for causing the edges thereof to be overlapped and pressed together to effect the intended sealing and joining of the seam.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the parts of the hose and in their assembled relationship; in thecharacter of and sequence of steps involved in its manufacture and in the details of construction of parts of the machine, in their relationship and".

details of construction embodied 'by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the hose wall, taken lengthwise thereof and showing the disposition of the reinforcing: band in the fold of the fabric strip, and the jointseal ing material between the reinforced and unreinforced edges of the strip.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectionalview of one of the seams of the hose.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a hose of an alter-- native, or modified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the joint between windings of the hose.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of a wall portion of still another modified form of construction.

Fig. 6-a is a view similar to Fig. 5, of the form of the invention shownin Fig. 6.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a machinesuitable for making hose in accordance with the methods embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the machine.

Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the pressure roll driving gears of the machine.

Referring more in detail tothe'drawings-- First describing the present'hosein what might be termed its present preferred form of construction, as seen in Figs. 1 and'2:

I designates a section, or'length of the present type of hose, comprising a continuoustubular body in the form of a helix made up of a continuous strip of a selected flexible material,-

formed into a succession of 'convolutions,'designated at 2, 2a, 2b, 20, etc., each convolution with its opposite longitudinal edge portions underlapped and overlapped respectively'with "the Ion"- gitudinal edge portions of the next preceding and i following convolutions and cementitiously 'secured thereto in a closed seam or'joint3x In the formation of the prefabricatedstriprof material, as applied to the tube of Fig;:.1,- Ipreferably use a continuous strip of-a'selectedysuitable fabric such, for example, as canvas," or'the' Such a stripwould be of uniform width" like. throughout its length and of indeterminate length, depending uponthe length of tube -de sired, and this strip of material is preferably folded substantially alongits central longitudinal line and the various convolutions'2 to 2c-are applied in a manner-to formareas of'double' thickness between contiguous edges of adjacent convolutioins. However, if only a single thickness of material between adjacent convolutions is desired, obviously the fold will be nearer one edge.-

Preparatory to, or at the time of thus folding the strip, a continuousreinforcing band-;or-wire-= E5 of a selected material, of any selected cross sectional shape, but preferably round, is applied-'ltoz the strip within the folded-edge." Then the overr.

lapped and engaged layers of the folded strip are united by an interposed layer of a suitable adhesive or cement, designated at 6 in Fig. 2. This cement also may surround the wire, as observed-in Fig. 3.

The folded strip-of fabric with Wire reinforcing applied within the fold and the fabric layers joined by the cement is then formed into the succession of convolutions so as to cause the unreinforced edge of the folded strip to be overlapped on the reinforced edge as shown best in Fig. 2. The lapped edge portions are joined and the continuous seam is sealed by the application thereto of a suitable adhesive or cement designated at 8. This may-be applied to the seam as the tube is formedor applied to the edge of the strip prior to thetwinding of the tube. The Wire, in this particular structure, is entirely enclosed and is thereby amply protected from injury or corrosion by contact with fumes or fluids that might be'conducted through thehose, and it serves not only to give the tube a required strength and maintain its tubular form, but it also adds to the strengthand durability of the seam and is a factor in the formation of the convolutions by the machine presently to be described.

In the winding of the tube, the fabric strip is rather tightly drawn, and thus, in the final form of the vhose, the walls are somewhat inwardly troughed between the helical lineof the reinforcing, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. This inward, troughed form'ation of the wall insures the inward bending of the Wall material between the lines of reinforcing at that sideof the hose toward which the hose might be bent or curved and thus provides a greater degree of flexibility thanis otherwise obtainable.

The spacing .of the convolutions of the reinforcing wire, which is more or less based upon the Width of the'strip used in making the hose, deterniines'to some extent the flexibility of the tube.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown anand Illdesignate theback-turned, inter-folded edgesof adjacent spirals of the strip. Note is to be taken that a cementitious joint sealing material H is applied between the back-folded edges of the'strip'and also about the wire to seal and secure the seam. The wire is'here disposedwithin the fold of the inside layer of the strip and is encased in a double thickness of material and also by the joint sealing cement which encloses it.

In that modification of hose structure illustrated in-Fig; 6, a continuous strip of selected material 12 is employed. This is of single thickness -but is formed between its longitudinal edges with a reverse fold l3 forming a triple- A'reinforcing wire I4 is enclosed within-the fold rand-the fold .istsecured by cement layers-Fl 5- between :the layers of material. In:;making,-,the ;tub'e,--the..strip is heli-' thickness of material.

cally wound and the edges of adjacent convolutions are overlapped to form a continuous seam It as shown and these edges are secured by an intermediate layer of cement, as at I8.

Such ducts or hose can be made in any selected diameter, within practical limits and of any desired length, and still other modifications might be made in the character of the seam and manner of enclosing the wire.

The continuous strip used in making the hose embodied by the disclosures in Fig. 6 may be prefabricated, and then helically wound as is the strip used in making up the hose in Fig. l.

The methods embodied in this invention therefore contemplate, on the one hand, the prefabrication of a continuous strip of material of a length required for the making of a hose of a desired length and diameter, and the formation of this strip into convolutions of a designated diameter while at the same time causing the edge portions of the successively formed convolutions to be overlapped and secured by a suitable cement applied to the strip before or during the winding operation. On the other hand, the invention contemplates the provision of a hose or a designated length and diameter from a continuous strip of selected fabric or the like, which is caused to be formed into a succession of convolutions with edges brought into overlapped relationship while a continuous reinforcing band or wire is fed into the seam and the seam sealed or joined by an applied cementitious material followed immediately by an application of pressure, to insure the integrity of the joint.

In Figs. '7, 8 and 9, I have illustrated a machine suitable for the making of hose in accordance with the methods disclosed herein. In its preferred form of construction, the machine comprises two cylindrical rollers 2t and ii that are coextensive and mounted with axes parallel. The spacing between the peripheries of rollers 20 and 2| is indicated in Fig. 8 and will depend upon the thickness of the material employed and if desired may be adjustable for materials of different thicknesses. At corresponding ends, these rolls have mounting axles 22 and 23 rotatable in bearings 24 and 25 carried by a frame 25. Fixed on the axles respectively are intermeshing gears 21 and 28 of like diameter, causing the rolls to rotate at the same speed and in opposite directions. On one axle is a driving gear 29.

The roller 2] is formed with a succession of equally spaced, encircling channels 3 normal to the axis of the roll and each shaped and sized to more or less snugly receive the wire and its fabric wrapping when a prefabricated strip is fed into the machine between the rollers. The spacing of the channels along the roll is less than the width of the prefabricated strip and determines the spacing of the successive windings as will presently be understood.

With the prefabricated strip and the de-- scribed or an equivalent friction holding and pressure forming means provided, the method of manufacture is as follows:

The prefabricated strip as illustrated in Fig. 7 is fed between the rollers 20 and 2! from one side and the fabric strip enters between the meeting margins of the rolls with the reinforcing wire at the fold of the strip resting in the leading channel of the roll, and the remaining width of the strip extending to and overlying the next adjacent channel. The rollers are driven initially by hand and the inserted strip is fed to and beyond the rolls, equivalent to the circumference of the desired hose, and then returned over the upper roll and the reinforced end of the strip; that is, the fabric wrapped wire portion is fed into alignment with the second channel overlying and bearing against the unreinforced edge of the strip, which, in the initial feeding, overlies the second channel. This feeding and guiding of the section or strip is then continued by mechanical or power operation of the rolls to complete the hose formation.

In this feeding of the strip, it will be apparent that the successive lengths of material between successive channels are necessarily in helical formation and that the first convolution is placed and determined as to diameter by hand feeding. This is an important step in the method for it permits the operator to determine and see the diameter of the complete hose at any desired measurement by approximately forming the initial hand-formed convolution of that desired diameter. The positioning of the reinforced edge of the prefabricated strip in the successive channels and the frictional feed of such through cooperation of the rolls insures that the feeding speed of the strip through each channel will be the same. Thus the diameter of the hose will be that of the hand formed initial convolution since the various portions of the tape and hose are moving at the same speed.

Prior to, or while feeding the strip to the initial channel of roll 2!, the surfaces of the engaging layers of the joint or seam are coated with a quick-drying adhesive or cement, preferably a rubber, plastic or other appropriate material,

and as the reinforced or wire containing edge of the strip is fed through the channel and as in this position it overlies the free edge of the section guided by its reinforced edge through the channel the reinforced edge of the section or strip will, by the rolls, be forced into intimate relation to the overlying free edge of the strip and, by the cementitious material, securely united there to. Thus it will be apparent that adjacent convolutions are united at their edges in the channels and that the form and diameter of the hose are maintained. The formation thus described is continued until the completely formed unit is of a desired length.

In the making of hose of the type illustrated in Fig. 4, it is the intent that the strip with back-turned edges be fed into the machine in the same manner as has been described with reference to the strip forming the hose of Fig. 1, and that at the same time, apparatus shall be used F to interengage the folds at the time the wire band is fed into the seam.

In the making of hose embodying the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, the prefabricated strip formed with the reverse fold along its longitudinal center, incorporating therein the continuous band of wire, is fed between the rolls in a manner whereby the wire enclosed portion is caused to be guided into the channels of the roll 2!, thus to maintain the spacing of the successive spirals and to cause the free edge portions of the strip to be overlapped and pressed together; it being understood that either prior to or during the rolling operating, suitable cementitious material is applied along the seams so that the pressure will cause the uniting of these edges. Additional cementitious or coating material such as rubber or plastic, may be spread on one or both sides of the strip or fed between the rollers in such a manner as to coat inside or outside of the hose or both with any desired thickness of coating.

Afterthe hose h'as left therdlliars, it might be sprayed'or otherwise finished for purpose of appearance or to add durability and protection.

Having'thus'd'escribed my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for continuously forming helically a hose section from a strip of flexible material having a continuousreinforcing element adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof and with an adhesive surface adjacent the free opposite longitudinal edge thereof, comprising, in combination, a pairof adjacently' disposed pressure rollers, one of said rollers having "a plurality of spaced annul'ar grooves formed in its surface and normal to its axis, said grooves being shaped to receive therein'the reinforcededge of said strip, bearing means adjacent one end of said rollers supporting said-rollers for rotary movement about parallel axes, the opposite end of said rollers being free and unobstructed, and means for driving said rollers in opposite directions whereby a strip of said flexible material, When'fed between the rollers, is progressively helically coiled on itself to form a continuous flexible hose section.

2. Apparatus for continuously forming helically a hose section from a flexible strip of fabric having a continuous reinforcing element adjacent one longitudinal edgethereof and with an adhesive; surface adjacentthe free opposite longitudinal edge thereof, comprising, in combination, a pair of pressure-rollers disposed one above the other, one of said rollers having a plurality of spaced annular grooves formed in its surface and normal'to its axis, said grooves being shaped to receive therein the reinforced edge of said strip, bearing means adjacent one end of said rollers supporting said'rollers for rotary movement about parallel axes, the opposite end of said rollers being free and unobstructed, and means for driving said rollers in opposite directions at equal peripheral speeds 'for forming a helical flexible hose section from the fabric fed between the rollers.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the annular grooves are equidistantly spaced from each other.

4. Apparatus for continuously forming helically a hose section from a flexible strip of fabric having an adhesive surface adjacent one edge thereof, comprising, in combination, a pair of pressure rollers having parallel axes and rotatably disposed adjacent one another, one of said rollers having axially spaced annular surfaces normal to its axis, bearing means supporting one end of said rollers for rotary movement, the other end of said rollers being free and unobstructed, means for driving said rollers in opposite directions whereby a strip of said flexible fabric, when fed between the rollers, is progressively helically coiled on itself to form a continuous flexible hose section.

5. Apparatus for continuously forming helically a hose section from a flexible strip of fabric having an adhesive surface adjacent one edge thereof, comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers having parallel axes and rotatably disposed one above the other, one of said rollers having axially spaced annular surfaces normal to its axis, bearing means supporting one end of said rollers for rotary movement, the other end of said rollers being free and unobstructed, and means for driving said rollers in opposite directions at equal peripheral speeds for forming a helical flexible hose section from the fabric fed between the rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,649,808 Cadden Nov. 22, 1927 1,742,777 Midgley Jan. '7, 1930 2,314,318 Cunningham Mar. 16, 1943 2,486,763 Roberts Nov. 1, 1949 2,489,503 Sampson et al Nov. 29, 1949 2,512,762 Benson et al June 2'7, 1950 2,539,853 Meyers et a1 Jan. 30, 1951 2,560,369 Roberts July 10, 1951. 2,584,501 Roberts Feb. 5, 

